Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 12/10/2007

Question
I had a recent game in which I an unsure if the umpire made the right call. The situation was I had a runner on second, the pitcher bounced a pitch off the catcher's shinguards and directly into the dugout. Does the runner on second get to advance to home? He never reached the third at the time the ball went out of play.
Thanks.

Answer
Mike,

Rule 7.05 (g)

The runner may with liability advance two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown ball goes into the stands, or into a bench (whether or not the ball rebounds into the field), or over or under or through a field fence, or on a slanting part of the screen above the backstop, or remains in the meshes of a wire screen protecting spectators. The ball is dead. When such wild throw is the first play by an infielder, the umpire, in awarding such bases, shall be governed by the position of the runners at the time the ball was pitched; in all other cases the umpire shall be governed by the position of the runners at the time the wild throw was made.

Based on this rule, I'd award the runner home plate.

Hope this helps!

Brian